Talk: "The Book Artist as Social Critic"

Library Assistant Jennifer Hadley writes:

Art and politics! What a mix! Head of Special Collections and University Archivist Suzy Taraba will talk about how artists use the medium of the book as both an art object and a means for promoting social critique and political discussion. After the talk, there will be a reception in the Smith Reading Room and a chance—without food or drink, please!—to see and read the featured books in the Davison Rare Book Room. Don't miss this great opportunity to take a break from studying while still fulfilling your desire for political engagement and art appreciation.

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 10
Time: 4:15 PM
Place: Smith Reading Room, Olin

Spotted outside of Olin: dumpster full o' books

Sitting in the parking lot between Clark and Olin is a huge dumpster full of books. You might wonder, why are all those books in the garbage?

I spoke with Liz Mainella, Serials Administrator at Olin Library, and found out that the books are being either discarded or transfered as part of the University's JSTOR Journal Offsite Storage Project:

In order to free up much-needed space in Olin Library, the library is undertaking a project to determine which bound volumes, available electronically through JSTOR, to consider withdrawing from the library's collection. These bound volumes will be retrievable from the Five Colleges Library Depository, an off-site storage facility.

Mainella assured me that all of the books being tossed will remain accessible to Wesleyan students. All the books are accessible through JSTOR, and the original bound copies will still be available through Wesleyan's affiliation with the Five College Library Depository.

Mainella also noted that the books that don't end up in the Depository will be recycled. That's a lot of paper!

Photo and tip courtesy of Cesar Medina '09.

Sinners and Spirits Unite, Too

The Sinners and the Spirits will also be performing this week, together.

Date: Thursday, March 1
Time: 8pm-9pm
Place: Olin Lobby

Index

Ever wonder what those call numbers all over campus are from? It's Index.

Index is a large-scale temporary installation that examines the library’s role as an index to the world outside, focusing on the devise of the call number. The world outside the library is marked in the language of the library: vinyl call numbers are distributed everywhere, stuck onto buildings, automobiles, trees, objects, even people (clothing) throughout the campus, and even into the town of Middletown. The call numbers refer to specific books in the Wesleyan library collection that in some way refer to the site to which they are affixed. A passerby could literally take note of the call number, check the book on the on-line catalog system, and find the book, which would inform them about the site.

Special Collections Blog

Valerie Gillispie, one of Wesleyan's Archivists, just notified us that Olin now has a Special Collections and Archives Blog! If you're interested in old photographs or Wesleyan's history, be sure to check back as they add more stuff!

Undies in Olin

"And this is our reference room. At 6pm on the dot, the undies come off."

Credit goes to Sophie Pollitt-Cohen '09 for the photo.